There are not many tournaments left until the Olympic Games but Team Thailand have used their home tournament well and are on the verge of making it their most successful ever!
On semifinals day in the capital Bangkok, six out of the 20 players or pairs were flying the Thai flag. At the end of a great day of badminton, three of them will fight for the chance to lift the title tomorrow.
Supanida Katethong kicked things off by stunning the number two seed Wang Zhi Yi of China in a thriller, 21-17, 12-21, 22-20. The left-hander overturned a 0-3 head-to-head record against Wang, saving a dramatic match point to reach the final.
It could have been an all-Thai women’s singles final, however, China scored a win back when top seed Han Yue defeated Pornpawee Chochuwong in straight games.
Looking for three
Dechapol Puavaranukroh/ Sapsiree Taerattanachai continue their hunt for a third Thailand Open title after a win over compatriots Ruttanapak Oupthong/ Jhenicha Saujaipraparat 21-15, 21-14. The latter demonstrating this week the new exciting Thai mixed doubles talent coming through.
Top seeds deliver
Another crowd favourite, the reliable pair of Jongkolphan Kititharakul/ Rawinda Prajongjai are looking to keep the women’s doubles title in Thailand for the first time since 2016, when Sapsiree Taerattanachai did it with Puttita Supajirakul.
The top seeds held on to defeat India’s Tanisha Crasto/ Ashwini Ponnappa 21-12, 22-20. They will now face Indonesia’s Febriana Dwipuji Kusuma/ Amallia Cahaya Pratiwi for the crown.
Reigning champion out
Last year’s men’s singles champion, Kunlavut Vitidsarn, agonisingly missed out on the final against Hong Kong China’s Ng Ka Long. In typical fashion, the Thai star was fighting back and looked to be finding his rhythm, leading 18-13 in the deciding game.
Somehow, Ng was able to find winners and sprinted past Vitidsarn to win 21-14, 18-21, 21-19. First final for him since his German Open win last year.
Lee Zii Jia awaits in the final after a fightback of his own. The Malaysian came from a game down to then dominate the match, 18-21, 21-12, 21-13.
Click here for the full match results.